THE gastrointestinal problems are on the agenda in Spain. In fact, it is estimated that bacterial proliferation already affects 15% of the population of our country, according to data from the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN) of Cinfasalud. Given this increase in discomfort, which produces episodes of diarrhea, constipation, nausea, flatulence and fatigue, Information on the microbiota and gut health is becoming more and more relevant.
In this sense, finding healthy foods with properties that help our microbiome has become essential for many people. SO, Kefir, a product once considered rare, has become an essential on supermarket shelves and in customers’ refrigerators. Although its origins are ancient, it was only a few years ago that it gained popularity as a probiotic. This fermented food has a large number of beneficial bacteria that in addition to being good for intestinal health, it also offers benefits for other organs such as the kidneys.
The effect of kefir on the kidneys
Although research continues to take kefir as an object of study, some publications have already been able to confirm the effect of its benefits on kidney health. The kidneys are one of the most important organs of the body, because thanks to them the body purifies toxins and removes excess fluid from the body, therefore maintaining your well-being is a priority.
To do this, we must understand that one of the main kidney conditions is chronic kidney diseasewhich, according to one study, is linked among other things to dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota. This alteration equates to an increase in harmful bacteria which also ends the permeability of the intestines, making it more accessible for endotoxins and other bacterial products to pass into the bloodstream.
In this sense, Taking probiotics like kefir can help maintain kidney healthsince it promotes a good microbiota. But studies have also found that the beneficial bacteria in this fermented dairy product may also have restorative effects.
The benefits of kefir for the kidneys
Based on the studies published so far, one of the benefits that kefir could have is for people with diabetes. In this research, this food was able to reduce the levels of urea and creatinine in the blood and provide them with protection against excess sugar. At the same time, another study focused on kefir peptides, where they were able to observe that in diets very high in salt, kefir prevented the kidney from becoming fibrous and maintained its filtration capacity.
On the other hand, it was also possible to observe benefits of kefir against the effects produced by very aggressive anticancer drugs for the kidneylike cisplatin. In the study you can see how taking kefir stopped the cell death caused by this drug in the kidneys.
Previous research has the similarity of being animal-focused studies, but the effects of kefir have also been tested on the human body. Thus, in a study published in Frontiers of nutrition, in which the data of thousands of people was examined, it was possible to conclude that People who regularly consume probiotics are less likely to develop chronic kidney disease (ERC).
About The Author
